A mighty wind

May 14, 2007

The town of Greensburg, Kan., was nearly obliterated by a massive F-5 tornado on May 4. Ten people were killed. There also was some good news: It wasn't worse. Residents received a 20-minute warning that the twister was bearing down on them, which is longer than a typical tornado warning. Most had sufficient time to take cover. Because the tornado was so big, it was easier than some to spot. And its direction was more predictable than most. Living in "tornado alley" as they were, residents knew what to do when they heard the warning. The average tornado warning time here in Michiana? About 12 minutes. That is adequate for most individuals and households. But it seems like a very short amount of time for a school to get its students to safety, or for a large workplace to protect its employees. Clearly, it is crucial for all to have a well-rehearsed weather emergency plan so they can make the best possible use of that 12 minutes. St. Joseph is one of the few counties in Michiana that has a centrally operated emergency siren system. More than 60 sirens are in position to announce an impending tornado. That's good. But officials at the St. Joseph County Emergency Management Agency would be the first to tell you that it isn't good enough by itself. The sirens can be heard in about 85 percent of the county, so there are coverage gaps. Each siren has an outdoor sound range of about 1 1/2 miles. That's an average that can vary a lot depending on wind speed and direction. Of greatest importance, the sirens are not meant to be heard inside homes. Their purpose is to warn people who are outdoors to take cover. Only residents who live near a siren should expect to hear it when indoors. Sirens are important. But they're not the whole answer. The whole answer is a weather emergency radio. Weather radios are available at hardware and general merchandise stores. Be sure to get one with a battery backup so it will work if the power goes out. No household should be without one. In fact, we think a weather emergency radio would make an outstanding slightly belated Mother's Day present or early Father's Day present. If you've seen photos of Greensburg, you must wonder how anyone survived. Having time to get to safety made all the difference. Government has a role to play in setting up reliable, life-saving warning systems. But individuals must be responsible for their own safety and that of their families, too. Have an emergency plan. Make sure everyone knows it. And get a weather radio.